Step construction



y 18, 1948- L. B. CLARK STEP CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1,- 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 18, L B CLARK STEP CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1, 1945 Patented May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEP CONSTRUCTION Louis B. Clark, Beaumont, Tex.

Application June 1, 1945, Serial No. 597,005

This invention relates to step construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction of the character described formed of concrete and whose adjacent parts are interlocked together in a novel manner so that the parts can be separately cast and then quickly assembled and interlocked together in the process of erection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type of concrete steps whose separate parts are precast and which may be quickly assembled, in the process of erection, and which, when erected, will be firmly locked together.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the buttress and step jack.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the tread and riser.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawings the numerals I designate the foundation piers of the floor which support the concrete floor joist 2 which are spaced the required distance apart. The fioor is formed of the concrete slabs 3, hereinafter more specifically described, and the floor is surrounded by the concrete, finishing beams 4.

The numerals 5, 5 designate the step buttresses which are supported on a slab 5 and whose inner ends abut the flooring, as shown in Figure 1.

Secured to, or formed integrally with, the inside of each buttress there is the step jack 1.

Each step and riser is cast in a single unit 8, the riser of the lower step resting on the slab 6 and the riser of each succeeding step resting on the preceding step, from below upwardly, as shown in Figure 1. The rear margin of each step and riser unit has a depending rib 9 extending from end to end thereof. Each riser, and rib, may have a reinforcing rod .as I ll embedded therein, as more accurately shown in Figure 3.

The ends of the respective ribs 9 are seated in corresponding notches II of the step jacks, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, so as to maintain each unit 8 against longitudinal movement relative to the buttresses.

The tread portion of each unit 8 has the depending end lips IZ which are wedge shaped in cross section and which fit into correspondingly shaped grooves I3 in the step jack 7 thus interlocking the tread and riser units 8 with the buttresses 5 thus holding said units in place and preventing the buttresses from spreading. I

The grooves I3 of each buttress are directly opposite the grooves [3 of the other buttress and are arranged in stepped relation inwardly and upwardly, as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The upper sides of the fioor joist 2 are shouldered inwardly thus providing the upwardly facing shoulders I4 and I 5 on which the corresponding ends of the fioor slabs 3 rest. These slabs are also of precast concrete and the upper face of the reduced portion of each joist 2 is formed with a longitudinal V-groove I 6. The ends of the slabs have the transverse, depending, wedge shaped lips H, the lips of the abutting ends of said slabs fitting into said V-grooves so as to interlock the floor slabs 3 with the joist.

The abutting margins of the fioor slabs 3 are provided, one with a depending longitudinal rib I8 formed with an upwardly facing longitudinal V-groove I9 and the other with a longitudinal depending lip 20 which is wedge shaped in cross section and which fits into said groove I9. The floor slabs 3 are thus locked against lateral or longitudinal displacement.

The outer tier of the fioor slabs 3 are provided, at their outer margins, with the depending longitudinal ribs 2| for strength.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A step construction comprising, spaced buttresses, the facing sides of the buttresses having step supports rising in stepped relation, said supports having alternately arranged notches and longitudinal grooves, tread and riser units confined between the buttresses and having transverse end lips in said grooves and longitudinal, depending, ribs whose ends are seated in said notches, the forward margin of each tread having a longitudinal, depending riser whose lower margin rests on the tread beneath.

LOUIS B. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,745,087 Floto Jan. 28, 1930 2,218,523 Byington Oct. 22, 1940 

